'I suppose there would be no real use here,' Damen admitted with a somewhat pained laugh. He and Laurent were the only two who spoke it fluently and, barring the arrival of anyone else from their world, that would continue. Neither language was ever likely to be the common tongue or the one of commerce here, yet Damen didn't much like the thought of them dying out. There was so little hint of his world in this place as it was.

He nodded as she spoke, smiling fondly near the end as he said, 'Matthias is plenty interesting, at least. And Matthew, I imagine. I'm afraid I've not had the pleasure of meeting him myself, however, and Matthias has not told me much. What is he like? Does he speak a different language as well?'